If you who have recently moved
to IPN, we welcome you to one of the most amazing communities in
New York City. In spite of our struggles, this is a place where people
make good friends and become good neighbors.

The Independence Plaza
Tenant Association (IPNTA) is here if you need help. IPN is a large
complex and often one voice is not enough to be heard. We’ve
got the experience.

LAP Lease Increase 2016

The IPNTA has asked me to give you our thoughts on the year 2016 LAP lease renewal. Should one take a one-year lease or a two-year lease?

First of all: For leases beginning between October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2016, the rent increase for rent stabilized 1-year lease: 0% and for 2-year lease: 2%.

As you know we are not rent-stabilized. The LAP tenant has an agreement with the landlord to take rent stabilization increases as a formula in raising the rent. The contract also states that after thirteen years of the contract there will be rent stabilization increases plus 1%. Therefore, if you take a one-year lease, it is 0% plus 1% (LAP agreement). If you take a two-year lease, it is 2% plus 1% increase (LAP agreement).

To give you a little background: Diane Lapson, President of the IPN Tenants Association, along with Board members, Diane Stein and BJ Berti, and myself, have been going every year to fight against rent stabilization increases. We went to a forum about rent stabilization. Therefore, we have a little understanding of how increases in the future will be with rent stabilization.

Last year, I recommended tenants take a one-year lease as I believed there would be a zero increase next year from the rent stabilization. There were many factors that I thought explained why it would be a zero increase. Under Mayor Bloomberg, the increases had been higher.

Bottom line I was right, there was a rent freeze on one-year leases. The same factors are in play this year. Mayor de Blasio appointed good people to the Rent Guidelines Board. The RGB has a formula they use for recommending rent increases.

Cost to operate rentals fell in last 12 months: Low fuel costs and a mild winter meant landlords’ costs actually fell over the last 12 months, for only the second time since 1969, at least according to the city’s Rent Guidelines Board. The seemingly encouraging estimate, announced April 14, 2016, could be a prelude to the Board once again ordering landlords not to increase rent on stabilized tenants.
I believe there will be a rent freeze increase or only a 1% increase next year. Therefore, I recommend a one-year lease.

LAP AND VOUCHER TENANTS CANNOT PAY RENT ONLINE AT THIS TIME

April 2016By now you should have received the mailing along with your rent statement about being able to see your rent statement online instead of having it slipped under the door. We know there are a lot of tenants who wanted the ability to pay online, but so far, we’ve just been informed, there are technical issues that are being worked out. For now, we still cannot pay our rent online!

The IPNTA is contacting the main office on William Street to address this situation. We were under the impression that this issue was resolved, but have learned today, that in fact, it has not been resolved yet. Sorry for any confusion you may have as a result of the memo sent out by Management or of our misinterpretation of the memo.

Please note you need to register online - just follow the instructions on the mailing you received. Once you respond back to the email you will be sent, you will be registered to see your statement online.

IMPORTANT: THIS FEATURE WILL BEGIN FOR THE MAY 2016 STATEMENT.
Wishing you all a happy and healthy Spring.

Free Civil Legal Services Coming to Your Neighborhood

[Download Flyer in English & Spanish]
The Mobile Legal Help Center is a partnership between the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) and the New York State Courts’ Access to Justice Program that provides free civil legal services to New Yorkers in need.

Other Information

Fire Safety Prevention

Provided by Guest Speaker Caroline Bragdon, MPH, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, who spoke at IPN, as part of the Community Board 1 Quality of Life Committee meeting on April 17, 2014.

World Trade Center Health Program Information

October 3rd 2013
Deadline
for
the
Victims Compensation Fund has passed.

However, the World Trade Center Health Program is still available -- this is separate from the VCF.

Mar 2008 - Information about the first filing is in our Archive for reference.
The complaint forms have been filed by our attorney with DHCR, accompanied by this cover letter (Full story -- see Archive or March 2008 Newsletter)